Box packing device for freight cars



Feb. 16, 1937. E. L. ENGBLOM Bo x PACKING DEVICE FOR'FREIGHT ems Filed Jan. 4, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY I v ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1937. E. ENGBLOM BOX PACKING DEVICE FOR FREIGHT CARS Filed Jan. 4, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

L; ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1937. E. 1.. ENGBLOM I 2,070,970 I BOX PACKING DEVICE FOR- FREIGHT CARS Filed Jan. 4, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 "Hill I B y w i 54 mrfrrrn IIII &

INVENT OR.

- ATTORNEY.

Patented el). 16,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX PACKING DEVICE FOR FREIGHT CARS Eric L. Engblom, Brooklyn, N. Y.

'Application January 4, 1936, Serial No. 57,468

18 Claims.

In packing the car it is usual to leave passage 10 space across the car between its side doors. Commonly heretofore boards, extending across the car and abutting against the piled up boxes at each side of the passageway are nailed to the floor, sides and roof of the car, with considerable 15 labor, expense and waste of lumber.

General objects of my invention are to provide a device of the mentioned type which is free from the defects and objectionable features of previously proposed devices for similar purposes; and to provide a device which is practical, effective, simple, economical and convenient.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be evident later.

In carrying out my invention I employ a fiexible tensile member which is forcibly drawn upon and which is guided along a curved path so that drawing strain, or movement, imparted to one end of such member, so as to draw upon it, will, at the other end of such tensile member, be transmitted in a diiferent direction, such as at right angles to the direction of the tensioning strain or force at the point of its application to the flexible tensile member.

This important feature is embodied in each of a suitable plurality of presser units which are adapted to be mounted upon one of a pair of similar opposed spaced movable partitions or bulkheads.

The presser unit also has a thrust screw, or 40 other suitable means, for applying a drawing force to the tensile member; and further has a pusher slide acted upon by such member.

The other movable bulkhead carries a plurality of thrust units corresponding to the presser units 45 and embodying features of my invention, among which are movably mounted channel-shaped thrust bars of difierent lengths and adapted to nest one within another.

My invention further includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be evident later.

A clear understanding of my invention will be obtained from the following particular descrip- 55 tion and accompanying drawings of modified forms thereof and in which similar parts are designated by similar reference characters.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic central vertical transverse section of a freight car having one form of the device of my invention installed therein, the section being taken on the line |--l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a further enlarged similar view in elevation.

Figure 4 is a further enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figures 3 and 5.

Figure 5 is a broken vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged broken elevation as viewed from the line 6-6 in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a broken vertical section on the line 7-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3, of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 9 is a reduced horizontal section on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 of another modification and is a vertical section on the line I0-l0 of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is an elevation as viewed from the right in Figure 10.

The particular form of the device of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive comprises a pair of similar spaced fiatwise movable partition walls or bulkheads A and B; a suitable plurality, shown as six, similar pressers, or pressure-producing elements or units CC, carried by and fixedly mounted upon the bulkhead 5 A; and a corresponding plurality of pressure transmitting thrust elements or units D-D carried by and fixedly mounted upon the bulkhead B.

The device of my invention is illustrated in the drawings as being installed within a railroad freight car E, parts of the body of which are shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2, for compactly and securely holding in place against shifting a carload of goods or merchandise, indicated as consisting of boxes FF of uniform size, which may contain any commodity, for example, fruit, vegetables, canned goods, jars, or bottles, a usual unoccupied transverse open space or passage being left at about the middle of the length of the car, and within which the device of my invention is disposed, in its operative position, as shown in the drawings.

Only the floor 20, side walls 2I-22 and roof 23 of the freight car E are diagrammatically shown in the drawings, it being understood that this car may be of a usual type, having end walls and side doors, not shown.

The bulkheads A-B may be of any suitable construction which will adapt them to their intended use as embodied in the device of my invention. Each of these bulkheads is shown as in the form of a reticulated framework or grill comprising an outer frame having upper and lower frame pieces 24-25, side pieces 25-27, and a reticulation or network of crossed bars 2828 with intervening crossed strips 28'-28, all firmly secured together, such as by welding or riveting, as well understood in the art to which my invention relates.

Similar bracket lugs 2929 are fixed respectively to the upper corners of the bulkhead frame and are pivoted by means of horizontally aligned pivot pins 30-30, to the lower ends of hangers 3|-3|, having trolley wheels 32-32 which are adapted to travel respectively upon track rails 33-33.

The track rails 33-33 extend longitudinally of the car E, beneath its roof 23 and respectively adjacent its side walls 2 |22 to which these rails may be fixedly secured, as indicated in Figure 1. The hangers 3|--3| extend at both sides of and beneath the rails 3333, so that thus the bulkheads A--B are anchored to the track rails 3333 against detachment therefrom and hence against removal from the car E, which guards against their loss or theft, together with the operating units 0-0 and DD respectively carried thereby.

When not needed for use, each of the bulkheads A-B, together with the operating units mounted thereon, may be swung upwardly on its pivots 3U39 and stowed in a substantially horizontal position beneath the car roof 23, being releasably supported in that position by any suitable simple retaining means, not shown, but well understood in the art.

Any one of the particular illustrated presser units C-C has a strong bracket-like main frame member, shown as being of a hollow shell form, having a vertical attaching plate or flange 34, by means of which it may be bolted, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, or otherwise fixedly secured upon the exposed side of the bulkhead A, to its crossed bars 2828.

Similar vertical side walls 35-35 of this frame member are respectively provided in their inner sides adjacent their upper edges with horizontal grooves 3636, shown as V-shaped, forming guideways. A pusher slide, or presser slide, has outer side ribs 3|3'| complementary to and slidably guided respectively in the frame grooves 35-33. This slide has a hollowed out or recessed downwardly open channel-shaped middle portion 38, and it has solid inner and outer closure heads or end blocks 39 and 40.

A strong upstanding transverse pusher lug 4| is carried by the inner end of the pusher slide, upon its rear or inner end block 39. The lug 4| "has an outwardly turned top flange 42, forming a hook. A substantially central positioning pin or lug 43 projects from the vertical front face of the front or outer end block 49. The functioning of the hooked lug 4| and the outer pin 43 will be clearly evident later.

In the drawings, this pusher slide is shown as formed of three pieces, comprising the channel piece 38 and the end blocks 39 and 40. The channel piece 38 fits over the end blocks 39 and 4|] in abutting relation therewith, with the rear end of the channel web abutted against the lug 4| and spaced below the hook 42.

The channel piece 38 and each of the end blocks 39 and 49 are strongly and fixedly secured together, such as by welding, or otherwise.

It is evident that this pusher slide may be made in one piece, thus allowing a choice, dependent upon economy and convenience in manufacturing under particular circumstances.

A pair of laterally spaced similar strong flexible tensile members, shown as cables 44-44, extend parallel with each other and have adjacent ends securely connected to the inner end head block 39 of the pusher slide. These cables are respectively guided for unitary longitudinal movement in a curved path in vertical parallel planes, in grooves 4646 in the outer convexly curved face of an outer forward wall 41, the upper portion of which curves in a quarter turn forwardly and downwardly and the lower portion of which, following a vertical front portion, curves in a semi-circle rearwardly and upwardly.

A bottom wall 48 has a thicker transverse portion 49 joined by the upwardly curved portion of the front wall 47 and having vertical tubular guide apertures 5059into which the upwardly curved ends of the guide grooves 4545 lead and through which the upwardly turned cables 44-44 respectively extend.

Within the hollow shell formed by the frame member, above its apertured bottom wall portion 49, the other ends of the cables 4444 are securely connected to a laterally extended or transverse cross piece 5|. Midway between the cables 4444 the cross piece 5! is formed with a downwardly opening socket 52 of hemi-spherical shape at its closed upper end or top.

The bottom wall portion 49 is formed with a rather long downwardly extended internally screw-threaded sleeve 53 in vertical alignment with the socket 52. A thrust screw 54 passes through the sleeve 53 in intermeshing engagement with its screw threads. The upper end of the screw fixedly carries a bearing ball 55, shown in Figure 4 as pinned thereon. The ball 55 seats in the socket 52 and is maintained therein, against retractive displacement therefrom, by a bi-part retaining plate 55 secured by any suitable means, not shown, to the lower side of the cross piece 5|.

The screw threads of the sleeve 53 and of the screw shaft 54 are strong, are shown as of the square-shouldered type, and as running or extending in a clockwise or right-hand direction. The lower end of the screw shaft 54 has a hand wheel 51 fixed thereon by means of which it may be rotated, in either direction desired. The bearing ball 55 is rotatable in the socket 52 of the cross piece 5| and the latter may rock pivotally upon the ball 55 to an extent sufiicient for equalizing tensile strain between the two cables 4444.

Similar lateral braces 5858 connect the attaching plate 34 to the side walls 3535 in line with the bottom wall 48 and a lower brace 59 connects the plate 34 to the bottom wall 48 and to screw sleeve 53.

Any one of the particular illustrated thrust units DD has a vertically positioned attaching plate 69 riveted, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, or it may be bolted or otherwise fixedly secured, upon the exposed side of the bulkhead B and to its crossed bars 2828.

This plate 60 outwardly carries a boss 6| having an outwardly opening hole 62 which is indicated in Figures 6 and '7 as extending through to the back of the attaching plate'60 and forming a socket.

The socket hole 62 is in alignment with the pin 43 of the corresponding presser unit C. This pin 43 is adapted to enter the hole 62, with the outer flat face of the outer end block 40 abutted againstthe outer flat face of the annular socket-forming boss 6|, which forms a thrust member, as will be evident later.

A channel-shaped thrust bar 63, movably mounted upon the attaching plate 60, is adapted to occupy either an upright folded position alongside of and with the back of its web adjacent to the front side of the bulkhead B, as shown in Figures 3, 6 and '7, or a horizontally extended operating position, as shown in Figure 2.

The attaching plate 60 has a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extended ears 64-64 which respectively fixedly carry a pair of pivot pins 65-65 which extend laterally away from each other at a level above the socket hole 62.

The channel bar 63 has short arms 66-66 which extend somewhat rearwardly beyond the back of and downwardly, or inwardly, beyond its lower, or inner, end. These arms are shown as being in the form of plates in line with the channel flanges. These arms have closed bearing slots 61-61 through which the pivot pins 65-65 respectively extend, these slots being vertical in the upright position of the channel-shaped thrust bar 63 shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7. The arms 66-66 may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured upon the channel bar 63.

The channel bar 63 has a solid lower, or inner, end block 68, forming an abutment, which may be welded or otherwise firmly secured in place within the channel of the bar 63. A positioning pin or lug 69 projects from the outer flat face of the end block 66 midway between its ends.

In the horizontal operative position of the thrust bar 63, as in Figure 2, the pin 69 enters the socket hole 62 and the adjacent face of the end block 68 abuts against the outer face of the socket boss 6|, as will be evident later.

The upper, or outer, end portion of the channel bar 63 has fixed therein, such as by welding or otherwise, a plate 66 forming a filler member, the purpose of which will be evident later.

This thrust bar 63 may be secured at its upright folded position, against a backing block 69' mounted upon the bulkhead B, by any suitable means, shown in Figures 6 and 7 as a catch hook 16 pivotally connected to one of the cross strips 28'.

Another channel-shaped thrust bar II is indirectly carried and supported by the attaching plate 66 and is movably mounted upon the aforementioned channel-shaped thrust bar 63. The thrust bar H is considerably shorter than the thrust bar 63, and is sulficiently narrower to be nested within the latter.

This shorter thrust bar H is adapted to occupy either a folded non-operative position with the back face of its web against the inner side face of the web of the longer thrust bar 63, regardless of the position of the latter, as shown in Figure 2, in the lower part of Figure 3, and in Figures 6 and 7, or to occupy individually a horizontally extended operating position, with the longer thrust bar 63 at a folded upright position, as shown in the upper part of Figure 3.

The longer thrust bar 63, at its lower, or inner, end, is formed with a. pair of ears 12-12, which respectively extend forwardly or outwardly from and in line with its side flanges in the form of extensions thereof. tively fixedly carry a pair of pivot pins 13-73 which extend laterally outward from the ears 12-12 in horizontal alignment with each other.

The shorter thrust bar II, at its lower, or inner end, is formed with a pair of ears I l-l4 which extend forwardly or outwardly in line with and form extensions of its side flanges. These ears 14-14 fixedly carry pivot pins 15-15 which respectively extend laterally outward from the ears 14-14 in horizontal alignment with each other.

The lower, or inner, ends of a pair of similar links 76-16 are pivoted respectively upon the pins 13-13 of the ears 12-12 of the longer thrust bar 63 at the outer sides laterally of these ears. The upper, or outer, ends of these links are provided longitudinally thereof with closed slots 11-17 through which the pivot pins 15-15 of the ears 14-14 of the shorter thrust bar II respectively extend. Thus the shorter thrust bar H is attached to and movably mounted upon the longer thrust bar 63 by means of the slotted swingable links 16-16.

The lower, or inner, end of the shorter channelshaped thrust bar H has within it a solid end block 18, forming an abutment and which may be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to this bar 1 l. A positioning pin or lug 19 projects from the outer flat face of the end block 18 midway between its ends.

In the individually horizontal and operative position of this shorter thrust bar H, as in the upper part of Figure 3, the pin 19 enters the socket hole 62 and the adjacent face of the end block 18 abuts against the outer face of the socket boss 6| as shown in Figure 3 and as will be clearly evident later.

When the shorter thrust bar H is folded into the longer thrust bar 63, its outer end is just inwardly from the inner end of the flller plate 66', with the exposed face of which the web of this bar H is flush, as indicated in Figures 3, 6 and '7.

A winged screw 86 screwed through a side flange of the longer thrust bar 63 into engagement with the adjacent side flange of the shorter thrust bar H retains the latter bar at its housed non-operative position.

The operation of the particular above described device of my invention is as follows:

Clockwise rotation of the hand wheel 51 will impart upward traveling movement to the screw shaft 54, thus moving the cross piece 5| upwardly and drawing upwardly upon the inner ends of the twin cables 44-44.

It will be noted that the curved path through which the cables 44-44 are guided makes a total turn of 270 degrees. Thus the opposite ends of the cables 44-44 move at right angles to each other, in rectilinear paths. In the particular arrangement shown in the drawings, upward movement of'the cross piece 5| causes the cables 44-44 to transmit horizontal movement to the inner end block 4| of the pusher slide, thus to force the latter outwardly or toward the right as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

After one end of the car E has been loaded to the desired extent, both of the bulkheads A and B may be let down and loosely pushed against each other and against the partial load, all of the thrust bars 63-63 and l l-H then being in their folded position and all of the pusher slides 38-38 being at their retracted position.

With a substantially minimum loa'd' These ears 12-12 respecthe car E, the longer thrust bars $363 are utilized, as shown in Figure 2; with a medium load, the shorter thrust bars 1l1l are employed, as shown in Figure 3; and with a substantially maximum load, the thrust bosses 6 l6l are used in direct co-operation with the outer end blocks 4046 of the pusher slides, without interposed thrust bars.

In shifting the longer thrust bar 63 from its non-operative to its operative position,,it may be drawn upward and outward longitudinally while it is being swung downwardly. The loose joint formed by the pivot pins 6565 and slots 61-61 provides for bringing the thrust bar pin i 69 into horizontal axial alignment with the thrust boss socket hole 62 into which this pin can then be inserted.

In its horizontal operative position, the thrust bar 63 rests upon the top of the pusher slide channel 38, with its channel flanges telescoped over the flanges of the latter, and with its free outer end at the front of the pusher lug 4i, whereupon turning of the hand wheel 51 as described will cause the outwardly traveling pusher lug to force the opposed bulkheads A and B away from each other, each of the thrust units DD and presser units CC being thus similarly operated, whereby the bulkheads A and B act together simultaneously to press the divided parts of the load F-F in opposite directions toward the ends of the car E.

The mentioned operative position of two of the longer thrust bars B363 is shown in Figure 2.

The shorter thrust bar 1| in its nested nonoperative position within the channel of the longer and wider thrust bar 83 does not in any way interfere with the operation of the latter, the channel flanges of this bar 1| being also at the same time telescoped over the sides of the pusher slide channel 38.

In bringing the shorter thrust bar 1! into operative position it is moved out of and away from the longer thrust bar 63 with the latter maintained in its non-operative upstanding position. As this shorter bar 1| is swung outwardly and downwardly, its lower end is moved outwardly and downwardly.

In this movement, the lower end of the bar 1| passes between the links 1615, which swing forwardly and downwardly upon their pivot pins 1313, to substantially a reversed position, their slotted cuter ends at the same time pivoting upon the thrust bar pins 15-15.

The loose joint connection formed by the swingable slotted links 16-16 provides for bringing the thrust bar pin 19 into horizontal axial alignment with the thrust boss socket hole 1 62 into which this pin can then be inserted.

In its horizontal operative position, this shorter thrust bar 1| co-operates with the pusher slide channel piece 38 and pusher lug 4i substantially as described for the longer thrust bar 63, the same being true as to all of the shorter thrust bars il- N employed conjointly. One of these shorter thrust bars 1|1l is shown in its operative position in Figure 3.

When there is only a minimum spacing between the bulkheads A and B, all of the thrust bars 6363 and 1I-1l are mtaintained in their non-operative upright positions. The pusher slide pins 43-43 are then inserted into the socket holes 62-62 and the pusher slide outer end blocks 40-40 abutted against the thrust bosses 6|-6|. throu h the described operation of the att sts hand wheels 51-51, the further rotation of which will force the bulkheads away from each other, with the result already described.

It is to be noted that the loose joint connection between the longer thrust bar 63 and its attaching plate 60, and the other loose joint connection between the shorter thrust bar 1| and the longer thrust bar 63, could be constructed differently than shown in the drawings, for enabling the described swinging and shifting movements of the thrust bars 63 and 1|.

By rotating the hand wheels 51-51 in one direction, the bulkheads A and B, as they are moved farther away from each other, will move the boxes FF into compact abutting relation with each other, forcing them firmly together under whatever amount of pressure it may be desired to apply, for thus securely holding them against shifting, from shocks which the car E may receive in its handling or in transit.

By rotating the hand wheels 51-51 in the opposite direction, the pressure of the bulkheads A and B against the boxes F-F will be removed, then allowing these bulkheads, together with the parts carried thereby, to be shifted out of the way, for unloading the boxes F-F from the car E.

It is now evident that the above described embodiment of my invention possesses many valuable attributes which render it convenient, economical, practical and efiective.

The modified form of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 is similar to that already described, the differences relating to the embodiment therein of means by which a plurality, or all, of the presser units, such as C'C', are interconnected so as to be operated simultaneously. For clarity, unchanged parts of the device are designated by unchanged numerals. It is thought to be sufficient to confine the description mostly to the changed and the new elements.

It will be noted from Figure 8, as compared with Figure 3, that the lower presser unit 0' has been reversed in position, so that its pusher slide 38 is at the bottom. It is to be understood from the drawings, and as is indicated by the operating means shown in Figure 9, that there are six of the presser units C'C', three upper and three lower, disposed substantially as shown in Figure 1 in the first described form of the device.

The upper unit C has a downwardly extended thrust screw 86 and the lower unit C has an upwardly extended thrust screw 8!, these screws being in axial alignment and being threaded in opposite directions, the thread of the upper screw being shown as right-hand while that of the lower screw 8! is left-hand. These thrust screws 86 and8l are not rotatable but are longitudinally slidable.

The lower wall 48 of the upper unit 43 and the corresponding upper wall 46 of the lower unit C have similar bearing sleeves 8282 for the slidable screws 8!! and 8! respectively. Each of the sleeves 8282 carries a stationary spline or key 83 extending longitudinally of the sleeve within it. The spline keys 83-83 respectively enter similar grooves or keyways 8484 provided longitudinally in the respective screws 86 and 8!. These grooves 84-84 are of sufficient length to provide for adequate sliding movement of the screws 80 and BI.

The thrust screws 80 and 8! are connected together by an internally screw-threaded sleeve 85 forming a tubular turnbuckle, the threads in the upper portion of this turnbuckle being righthand and those in its lower portion being left hand, and meshing respectively with the screw threads of the thrust shafts and 8|.

The turnbuckle sleeve is fixedly provided with a worm gear 86. Three laterally spaced screw sleeves 5585-B5 are shown in Figure 9, each belonging to a pair of vertically spaced presser units, similar to the unitsv C'-C shown in Figure 8.

The worm wheels 86-8686 are respectively engaged by similar worm screws- 8l-8181 fixed upon a rotatable cross shaft 88, journaled, adjacent the opposite ends of the worms, in the arms of three yoke-shaped brackets 89-8989, which are fixedly secured upon the outer or front face of the bulkhead A. The screw threads of the worms 818!-8l are shown as right-hand. The shaft 88 may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 90 fixed upon one of its ends.

For each of the presser units C-C carried by the bulkhead A, the bulkhead B carries a thrust unit D, already described, two of which are shown in Figure 8. It is to be noted that the lower thrust unit D has a vertically reversed position, in conformity with the similarly positioned lower presser unit C, so that thus the thrust bars 63 and II fold downwardly to their non-operative positions.

In general and excepting as noted in or clearly evident from the foregoing description, the operation of this modified form of my invention is substantially similar to that of the first described form.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a modified presser unit C in which the tensile cables 44-44 have their outer, or lower, end portions wound upon a tensioning drum 9|. The outer ends of these cables are securely connected to lugs 92- 92 which fixedly project from the periphery of the winding drum 9|. The lower portion of the front frame wall 41' is cut away adjacent to the front of the drum 9|.

The drum BI is fixed upon a shaft 93 which is journaled in the side walls 35-35 of the mounting frame. An extended end of the drum shaft 93 has a hand wheel 94 fixed thereon, by means of which the drum 9! may be rotated, for

drawing upon and winding up the cables 44-44,

thus to move the pusher slide 38 outwardly, for forcing the bulkheads A and B away from each other, as previously described.

A tensioned condition of the cables 44-44 is maintained and undesired reverse or unwinding rotation of the drum 9| prevented by means of a ratchet wheel 95 fixed upon the drum shaft and the ratchet teeth of which are engaged by a releasable detent pawl 96, pivotally mounted at 91 upon the adjacent side wall 35 of the frame bracket member. The latter is shown as having side flanges 98--98, by means of which this presser unit C may be bolted or otherwise firmly secured upon the bulkhead A, as indicated.

In respects not already mentioned, the operation of the modified form of Figures 10 and 11 is substantially similar to that of the form shown in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive.

What I claim is:

1. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed flatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member connected with said slide, and operating means adapted to draw upon said tensile member.

2. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed flatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member connected with said slide, and operating means adapted to draw upon said tensile member, said operating means including a thrust screw.

3. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed flatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to said slide, means adapted to guide said tensile member away from said slide along a curved path, and operating means to which the other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to draw upon the latter. 7

4. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed flatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to said slide, means adapted to guide said tensile member away from said slide along a curved path, and operating means to which the other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to draw upon the latter, said operating means including a thrust screw disposed at an angle to the path of movement of said slide.

5. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed flatwise movable bulkheads, a presserunit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to said slide, means adapted to guide said tensile member away from said slide along a curved path, and operating means to: which the other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to draw upon the latter,

said operating means including a rotatable thrust screw disposed at an angle to the path of movement of said slide, and a bearing nut for said screw fixed upon said presser unit.

6. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed fiatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of-said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to said slide, means adapted to guide said tensile member away from said slide along a curved path, and operating means to which the other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to draw upon the latter, said operating means including a slidable thrust screw dispose-d at an angle to the path of movement of said slide, means fixed upon said presser unit adapted to guide said screw and prevent its rotation, a nut rotatable upon said screw, and abutment means adapted to prevent traveling movement of said nut upon said screw. '7. In a freight packing device, in combination, a pair of spaced opposed fiatwise movable bulkheads, a presser unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon one of said bulkheads, said presser unit including a pusher slide movable toward the other said bulkhead and means adapted to move said slide, and a thrust unit adapted to be fixedly mounted upon said other bulkhead and including a thrust member in the path of movement of said slide for thereby forcing said bulkheads away from each other, said slide-moving means comprising a flexible'tensile member having one of its ends connected to said slide, means adapted to guide said tensile member away from said slide along a curved path, and operating means to which the other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to draw upon the latter, said operating means including a winding drum rotatably mounted upon said presser unit and to which said other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to wind the latter thereon, and releasable means adapted to prevent unwinding rotation of said drum.

8. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, and operating means to which said other end of said member is connected and adapted to draw said end toward the path of said slide.

9. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a fiexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end 0i said Sl de and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, a thrust screw having an inner end extended toward the path of movement of said slide and connected to said other end of said tensile member, and means adapted for operating said screw.

10. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, a rotatable thrust screw having an inner end extended toward the path of movement of said slide and connected to said other end of said tensile member, a nut for said screw fixed upon said frame, and means adapted for rotating said screw.

11. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, a longitudinally slidable thrust screw having an inner end extended toward the path of movement of said slide and connected to said other end of said tensile member, a guideway on said frame for said screw and adapted to prevent its rotation, a nut rotatable upon said screw, abutment means adapted to prevent traveling movement of said nut, and means adapted for rotating said nut.

12. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, a rotatable drum carried by said frame and to which said other end of said tensile member is connected and adapted to wind the latter thereon, means adapted for rotating said drum, and means co-operative with said frame adapted to prevent unwinding rotation of said drum.

13. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable first bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile mem her having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, operating means to which said other end of said member is connected and adapted to draw said end toward the path of said slide, a similar fiatwise movable second bulkhead spaced from said first bulkhead, a thrust unit having an attaching part adapted to be fixedly secured upon said second bulkhead, and a thrust member carried by said attaching part in the path of movement of said pusher slide and adapted to be abutted thereby to force said bulkheads away from each other,

14. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a plurality of similar presser units each having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, said units being arranged in a plurality of pairs thereof upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a flexible tensile member having one of its ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted to guide said member in a curved path away from said slide and thence toward said bulkhead and thence to have its other end extend toward the path of said slide, a longitudinally slidable longitudinally screw-threaded thrust element having an inner end extended toward the path of movement of said slide and connected to said other end of said tensile member, a guideway on said frame for said thrust element adapted to prevent its rotation, said thrust elements belonging to said presser units of each of said pairs thereof being extended toward each other in axial alignment and having their screw threads running in opposite directions, a rotatable screw member having two sets of oppositely turned axially aligned screw threads engageable respectively with the screw threads of said aligned thrust elements, and operating means in com mon adapted to rotate all of said screw members concomitantly.

15. In a freight packing device, in combina tion, a fiatwise movable first bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, means adapted to move said slide, a similar fiatwise movable second bulkhead spaced from said first bulkhead, a thrust unit having an attaching part adapted to be fixedly secured upon said second bulkhead, a thrust member fixedly carried by said attaching part in alignment with the path of movement of said pusher slide and adapted to be abutted thereby to force said bulkheads away from each other, and a thrust bar movably carried by said attaching part and adapted to be interposed between said thrust member and said pusher slide and adapted to transmit movement of the latter to said thrust member.

16. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable first bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, means adapted to move said slide, a similar fiatwise movable second bulkhead spaced from said first bulkhead, a thrust unit having an attaching part adapted to be fixedly secured upon said second bulkhead, a thrust member fixedly carried by said attaching part in alignment with the path of movement of said pusher slide and adapted to be abutted thereby to force said bulkheads away from each other, a longer channelshaped thrust bar movably loosely jointed to said attaching part and adapted to telescope over and be abutted by said pusher slide and to abut against said thrust member, said bar being normally out of the path of movement of said slide, and a shorter channel-shaped thrust bar movably loosely jointed to said longer bar and adapted to telescope over and be abutted by said slide and to abut against said thrust member, said shorter barbeing adapted to be normally nested within the channel of said longer bar out of the path of movement of said slide.

17. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable first bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, means adapted to move said slide, a similar fiatwise movable second bulkhead spaced from said first bulkhead, a thrust unit having an attaching part adapted to be fixedly secured upon said second bulkhead, a thrust member fixedly carried by said attaching part in alignment with the path of movement of said pusher slide and adapted to be abutted thereby to force said bulkheads away from each other, a longer channelshaped thrust bar movably loosely jointed to said attaching part and adapted to telescope over and be abutted by said pusher slide and to abut against said thrust member, said bar being normally out of the path of movement of said slide, a shorter channel-shaped thrust bar movably loosely jointed to said longer bar and adapted to telescope over and be abutted by said slide and to abut against said thrust member, said shorter bar being adapted to be normally nested within the channel of said longer bar out of the path of movement of said slide, positioning means formed upon said thrust member, and positioning means respectively upon said slide and upon each of said thrust bars and adapted to cooperate respectively with said positioning means upon said thrust member.

18. In a freight packing device, in combination, a fiatwise movable bulkhead, a presser unit having a frame adapted to be fixedly secured upon said bulkhead, a pusher slide, a slideway adapted to guide said slide upon said frame along a rectilinear path of movement away from said bulkhead, a pair of similar flexible tensile members having adjacent ends connected to the inner end of said slide and extending away from said bulkhead, means adapted for similarly guiding each of said members in a curved path away from said slide and thence inward toward said bulkhead and thence with said members having their other adjacent ends extending toward the path of said slide, a cross piece to which said other adjacent ends of said members are connected, a thrust screw having an inner end extended toward the path of movement of said slide and connected to said cross piece between said tensile members, and means adapted for operating said screw.

ERIC L. ENGBLOM. 

